Changes in employment status in end-stage renal disease patients during their first year of dialysis

To assess employment status in new end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients at the start of dialysis and after 1 year, and to determine whether demographic and clinical variables and physical and psychosocial functioning at the start of dialysis are risk factors for loss of employment after 1 year of dialysis.

Prospective follow-up study in which 38 of 48 Dutch dialysis centers participate.

659 patients who had started on dialysis and who were between 18 and 65 years old were included. Patients were re-examined after 12 months.

Demographic data, physical and psychosocial functioning with the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and data on employment status were obtained using questionnaires. Nephrologists provided the clinical data.

At the start of dialysis, 35% of patients were employed, in contrast to 61% of the general Dutch population. Within 1 year, the proportion of employed patients decreased from 31% to 25% of hemodialysis patients, and from 48% to 40% of peritoneal dialysis patients. In patients who were working at the start of dialysis, independent risk factors for loss of work within 1 year were impaired physical and psychosocial functioning [odds ratio physical: 3.4, 95% confidence interval (% CI), 1.0-11.2; odds ratio psychosocial: 4.2, 95% CI, 1.2-14.2].

As the percentage of employed patients at the start of dialysis is about half the expected percentage, loss of work is an important issue in both predialysis and dialysis patients. Improvements in physical and psychosocial functioning are potentially preventive of loss of work in patients who are employed when they start dialysis.